Quality Preschool: A Pathway to Achievement Research tells us that increasing high-quality Early Education can narrow existing achievement gaps.1 The Quality Preschool Initiative is funded by First 5 San Diego to provide high-quality preschool opportunities in several communities throughout San Diego County. About $50 million will be spent in areas of need between July 2012 and June 2015. The ultimate goal of the Quality Preschool Initiative is to reduce the school readiness gap and improve school achievement in San Diego County by providing children with the kind of early education experiences they need to do well in school and beyond. Returns to a Unit Dollar Invested Source: Heckman and LaFontaine (2007) Valley Center Fallbrook Infant/Toddler Programs Escondido Preschool Programs Vista Schooling Oceanside Job Training Borrego Springs Ramona Cajon Valley Spring Valley Lemon Grove San Diego Mt. Empire Chula Vista National South Bay San Ysidro A SMART INVESTMENT PIONEERING WORK (AND PLAY) THE POWER OF DIVERSITY Economists have found that quality early learning offers one of the highest returns of any public investment – more than $7 for every dollar spent. The Quality Preschool Initiative provides one-of-a-kind support to preschool programs by giving them tools they need to improve quality for children, such as: Multiple studies show that children who attend a quality preschool program get a better start in life, perform better in school, and thus, are less likely to turn to crime later in life2. • External reviews to evaluate adultchild interactions, program safety, and environmental quality • Customized coaching support responsive to the needs of each teacher and director • Developmental screening for all children and referral to services as needed • Parent education that includes involvement in classrooms and parenting workshops The Quality Preschool Initiative is currently working in 16 San Diego regions, partnering with over 40 unique preschool agencies expected to serve over 13,000 children. Diverse preschool settings allow parents to choose a preschool best suited for their child and living situation. Settings include: $5,650 VS $47,000 The current cost to provide a child with a year of quality preschool is $5,6503. The annual cost to incarcerate a person in California costs $47,000. Prisons cost Californian taxpayers $7.9 billion dollars a year4. 1 RAND Corporation. (2009) “Strategies for Advancing Preschool Adequacy and Efficiency in California” 2 Fight Crime: Invest in Kids (2009) “Quality Early Education Prevents Crime” ³ QPI 2013-14 cost/subsized slot 4 VERA Institute of Justice (2012) “The Price of Prisons: California” Family Child Care Business College-Based For-Profit Business Head Start Grantee Community Organization School District mod 4-14-14 Towards Quality: Key Improvement Incentives In 2012, the First 5 Commission of San Diego awarded $50 million for three years to the San Diego County Office of Education to coordinate the First 5 San Diego Quality Preschool Initiative. The Quality Preschool Initiative provides high-quality preschool at no cost, regardless of family income in 16 high-need communities - Borrego Springs, Central San Diego, Chula Vista, El Cajon, Escondido, Fallbrook, Lemon Grove, Mountain Empire, National City, Oceanside, Ramona, San Ysidro, South Bay, Spring Valley, Valley Center/Pauma, and Vista. HISTORY OF SUCCESS From 2006 to 2011, First 5 San Diego contracted with the San Diego County Office of Education to implement the Preschool For All (PFA) Demonstration Project, with the goal of developing a model quality early learning system in San Diego County. The project provided PFA providers resources to enhance quality, support teacher development and increase parent involvement in communities that needed it most. Communities were chosen based on the areas with the lowest Academic Performance Index (API) scores. Findings from the Preschool for All Demonstration Project’s Five-Year Summative Report, released September 2012, helped to identify the best practices needed for the new Quality Preschool Initiative. ABOUT THE FUNDER First 5 San Diego promotes the health and well being of young children during their most critical years of development, from the prenatal stage through five years of age. Their goal is to help ensure that every child in San Diego County enters school ready to succeed. BEFORE QPI State/Federal Subsidy Quality 1 2 3 4 5 Tier Rating TEACHER POWER QRIS Aside from parents, preschool teachers play the most important role in preparing a child for school. They possess the academic and experiential requirements needed to guide developmentally appropriate and meaningful early learning experiences. They are also responsible, with support from their directors, for continually improving the quality of their classrooms. QRIS = Quality Rating and Improvement System. A Quality Rating and Improvement System defines the necessary components of an effective preschool program, measures the degree of which these components are in place (Rating), and then offers strategies to improve on those measures (Improvement). San Diego’s own First 5 San Diego Quality Preschool Initiative is a local example of a QRIS in action. The Quality Preschool Initiative has implemented a unique stipend system focused on encouraging professional growth by providing a financial incentive to teachers and site directors to improve in the following areas: • Education Level • Quality Learning & Instruction • Learning Environment THE EQUATION The tier rating of a preschool site is determined by a calculation of several elements of quality, such as, teacher education qualifications, teacher-student interactions, and the physical space of a classroom learning environment. The higher the tier rating, the better the quality. THE FULL CUP: UNDERSTANDING REIMBURSEMENTS AFTER QPI QPI Subsidized Reimbursement Imagine a cup of water. If a child qualifies for State or Federal Subsidies, their cup is partially full, varying slightly depending on the subsidy received. If a child is eligible for the Quality Preschool Initiative, the remainder of the cup is filled with funds that preschools need for maintaining and improving high quality preschool programs. mod 4-14-14
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